- Leicester City manager Claude Puel has provided a fitness update ahead of facing Liverpool
- Foxes defender Danny Simpson could be out for up to five weeks, Puel confirmed
- Robert Huth may also be set for an appearance for the Club's Development Squad next month
- Puel commented on the packed fixture schedule, saying it is vital for him to provide sufficient rest
The Leicester City manager is completing his preparations for Saturday’s visit to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League, but he’ll have to do so without Simpson’s services.
The 30-year-old full-back left the field in the 57th minute during City’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Saturday with his replacement, Daniel Amartey, also being dismissed 16 minutes later.
Aleksandar Dragović deputised for the pair in Tuesday's 2-1 reverse at Watford and Puel has revealed that it may be some time before Simpson can return to first team duties.
He said: “I spoke about it being a few weeks [on Tuesday]. I don’t know; maybe four or five weeks. We’ll see when he can come back into training.”
Defensive colleague Robert Huth, meanwhile, is continuing his recovery from an ankle problem and could be in line for an appearance for the Club's Development Squad over the New Year.
“[Huth] has to come back with good intensity,” Puel added. “He needs to find the intensity in his play and so we’ll see if he can start with the Under-23s.”
Elsewhere, Matty James returned to the bench this week following an Achilles injury and Puel, speaking more broadly on the fitness of his squad, discussed the difficulties of team selection over Christmas.
He added: “I have spoken about this. We have a short time and one of the [smallest] recovery times in the Premier League. It is a crazy period for my squad.
“We will always try to put in place a team with good balance and with the possibility to win all the games. We try to keep the good freshness for the players to prevent them from injury.
“It’s important and we’ll see if we can sometimes give some recovery time for the players with a lot of game time.”